21 Ways to be a Responsible Army Football Fan | PART 2 - TAKE THE FIELD
CONNECT + INSPIRE
CADET is a bi-annual magazine about West Point culture.
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Based in DC @chrisWpestel @carolinepestel
Look, it’s going to happen. This year someone, somewhere along the way will challenge you. You may find yourself bellied-up to the bar, or at a late-summer family backyard BBQ, or a West Point Society happy hour and the question will be posed: So, what do you think about Army Football this year? Or how about that game this past weekend? Or can you believe that Michigan game?
How you respond will inform the universe of who you are. It will put on display your preparation, lack thereof and possibly pigeonhole you as a true supporter of the Pride & Dream or as an awful bandwagon jumper and wannabe.
Well, you are in luck, with a little grit we’ve pulled together a curated list of how YOU can best prepare yourself prior to each week’s match-up, best keep up with the game as it unfolds fro anywhere on the planet, and where to go afterwards to collect all the key perspectives, stats and photographs of what we all expect to be many Army Football victories.
***Before we get started, keep in mind we have omitted a few obvious players here…ESPN, USMA proper, Army Athletics and Army Football. We’re assuming they are already on your radar.
Did we miss someone/something? Let us know in the comments or REACH OUT TO US HERE
No, good, let’s jump in:
7 WAYS TO FOLLOW ALONG IN-GAME
PHASE 2: TAKE THE FIELD
You’ve watched the film. You’ve taken your reps. You’re prepared. You’re ankles are tapped. You’re feet feel quick and kick-off is here. The crowd’s collective roar fills the night air. You can feel the energy coarse through your veins as you make your way from the tunnel to take the field.
It’s the moment you’ve been visualizing all week long. It’s finally here.
Let’s start with those of you actually going to a game. These three resources will ensure you are getting timely and accurate game day information.
Now, on to the actual list.
#1 - WATCH, PARTY
It happens every weekend: WHAT CHANNEL IS ARMY ONNNNNNN? Fear not, here is your CBS Sports Network CHANNEL LOCATOR. Phew! Now that you're tuned in be sure to follow CBS SPORTS NETWORK ON TWITTER so you can instantly retweet that gnarly 4th and short conversion or replay of the Supe doing push-ups.
And don’t watch the Pride & Dream alone: see AOG’s CALENDAR TO FIND A WATCH PARTY near you.
#2 - RADIO GA GA, RADIO GOO GOO
It’s unfortunate, but sometimes you can’t be by your TV for kickoff or (heaven forbid) the entire game…it’s fine because you get the esteemed pleasure to have RICH DEMARCO be your eyes and ears on game day. Rich is the newest honorary member of the Army Football Club, a great human being and LIVES for Army Athletics.
You will be in good hands.
#3 - LIVE TWEET WITH ME
Look. Sometimes you can’t be at Michie or travel to an away game. We get it. Maybe you don’t get the cable package with CBS Sports Network and your local Society is a bunch of sluggo-nerds. Sometimes the radio broadcast with Rich Demarco just isn’t in the cards. For those times when your stuck at your kids dumb gymnastics meet that just won’t end, or your attending Aunt Helen’s kids wedding who you wouldn’t recognize if your life depended on it, you can turn to ALEX FUNDERBURKE - the best in the business at live-tweeting Army Football with INSIDE & OUTSIDE ARMY.
And the Army Football coverage doesn’t stop there. Be sure to check them out for all your Army Sports needs, wants and desires.
#4 - MORE LIVE TWEETING YOU DEMAND?
Unlike the radio and TV, one nice thing about Twitter is being able to simultaneously receive multiple perspectives in essentially real-time. So, lets just say that maybe you want to watch the game with Rich Demarco’s radio call playing as your audio WHIIIIIILE you follow along with multiple live tweet streams. If that’s how you consume Army Football, well then we applaud you. You have our vote for the 2020 Distinguished Graduates shortlist.
Follow BRAVE OLD ARMY BLOG.
#4 - DRUNK, OLD GRAD
Some say you become an Old Grad when your Class Crest is removed from Ike Hall. Others claim that it happens as soon as you toss your white cap into the endlessly blue Michie sky. But some say the true threshold of becoming an Old Grad lies in the ability to appear in a game day INSTAGRAM STORY FROM DRUNK OLD GRAD.
From parade hijinks and tailgate feats-of-strength to cadet robes and old school jersey sightings at watch parties you’re not feeling the full-effect of the Long Gray Line on game day unless you are following Drunk Old Grad.
#6 - THE BARSTOOL ANGLE
Barstool sports has a certain je ne sais quoi and Army’s direct affiliate - ARMY BARSTOOL is like if you took our recent collective confidence boost and bottled it into one social media presence. What could go wrong? The ANSWER: Not a single thing.
#7 - THE FORMER ARMY FOOTBALL PLAYER/OLD GRAD/FORMER ARMY FOOTBALL OFFICER REPRESENTATIVE & INSTRUCTOR/FATHER OF CONNOR SLOMKA PERSPECTIVE
That heading should give you all you need to know as to why you might want to follow JIM SLOMKA. It’s not every year that you get a Legacy parent like this. If you want to see a proud Dad retweet his son picking-up 4th and short - follow JIM SLOMKA. If you want to witness Army Football from a generational perspective - follow JIM SLOMKA. If you want to follow and old grad - just go follow JIM SLOMKA. Follow this proud former Army Football player and experience Army Football through the tweets of the father of an Army Fullback.
UP NEXT
PHASE 3: SING SECOND
Did we miss someone/something? Let us know in the comments or REACH OUT TO US HERE
Be Sure to Check Out Part 1: PREP WORK
